search

basic information
video

Eurasian Bittern

Botaurus stellaris (Linnaeus, 1758)

Большая выпь

2012-06-30
Gorkoe lake. Vylkovo, Tyumentsevsky raion. Altaisky krai.
© Vadim Zykov

Description

Background color of Great Bittern is clayey-buff; each feather is black-brown mottled. Forehed, crown and nape are black-brownish. There are no differences in seasonal and age plumages. Bill, legs and skin near eyes are greenish-yellow; legs are slightly greener than bill; claws are black-brown, eyes are yellow. Sizes: wing 320-350, tail 113-116, tarsus 96-102 mm.

Distribution

Eurasian Bittern widespread breeds on lakes and reservoirs in steppe, forest-steppe, and south of forest zone in Siberia; in Yakutia it can move more north, to midddle stream of Lena River. On migration it is also observed on plains; very rare visits mountain lakes.

Biology

The Eurasian Bittern is common breeding migrant. It inhabits lakes and weak current rivers with plentiful reed-beds, mace-reed and cane. Appears early (identified by voice), at April, in the north of the region in May. Migrates singly, rare in pairs. Nest is built among reed-beds from reed stems and leaves. Birds continue to construct the nest during incubation and raising of juveniles. Clutches usually 3-5, rarely 6 eggs, which found in mid - end May. Just hatched juveniles found mid-June - mid-July; flying young observed mid-July - August. Courtship booming of males heard till to early July. Repeated breeding after loss of clutches is possible. Autumn migration (singly or in small flocks of 3-8 birds) begins at end of August, majority of birds departs in September - October.

References

Gavrilov E. I., Gavrilov A. E. "The Birds of Kazakhstan". Almaty, 2005.
В.К.Рябицев. "Птицы Сибири". Москва-Екатеринбург, Изд-во "Кабинетный ученый", 2014

supplement

go to family:

in other projects

Birds of Belarus

Birds of Far East Russia

Birds of Kazakhstan

Birds of Kyrgyzstan

Birds of Northern Eurasia

Birds of Russia

Birds of Europaean part of Russia

Birds of Tyumen Oblast

Birds of Ukraine

Birds of Uzbekistan

Birds of Xinjiang

unidentified birds


2024-03-13

Сергей Л. Волков: Положу пока в неопределенные.

2024-02-06

Сергей Л. Волков: А мне интересно, когда же найдут помеси этих видов.

2024-01-26

Родион Вахрушев: Тут сложно сказать

more unidentified birds...